Artwork
Henry Richard Esq MP
Henry Richard Esq MP is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist William Williams. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the National Library of Wales. Created in 1870, this oil portrait presents the Welsh politician Henry Richard, Esq.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1870, this oil portrait presents the Welsh politician Henry Richard, Esq., MP. Rendered in an oval format, the work features a dark backdrop framed by a lighter border, focusing attention on the sitter’s dignified presence. The composition is modest in scale yet conveys a formal, contemplative atmosphere appropriate to a public figure of the era.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Henry Richard with a full white beard and hair, dressed in a dark jacket over a crisp white shirt. His gaze meets the viewer directly, and his solemn expression suggests a sense of resolve and public duty. The straightforward representation aligns with mid‑nineteenth‑century conventions for depicting parliamentary gentlemen, emphasizing character over ornamentation.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting benefits from the medium’s capacity for subtle tonal variation and surface texture. Williams employs a restrained palette of dark tones contrasted with the sitter’s white hair and shirt, creating depth through chiaroscuro. The oval shape and muted background isolate the figure, while the brushwork remains smooth, reinforcing the portrait’s formal quality.
History & Provenance
The work was painted by Welsh artist William Williams, a prolific portraitist of his time. Since its creation, the portrait has remained within public collections and is currently housed in the National Library of Wales, where it forms part of the institution’s holdings on notable Welsh political figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
British portrait painter working in oil in the late 1700s. His canvases usually show a single sitter in a quiet pose, often in a dark coat and white collar. Portrait of a Boy, Probably of the Crossfield Family (ca.…
Portrait of a Boy, Probably of the Crossfield Family
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John Roberts (1804–1884), Brother of Samuel Roberts of Llanbrynmair
Tri chedyrn Cymru
Reverend E. Herbert Evans of Carnarvon (1836–1896)
Reverend J. G. Morris of Newport, Pembrokeshire (1833–1919)
